Columbus The Transportation Review Advisory Council
(TRAC), which oversees funding of major new transportation projects,
today approved more than $76 million for construction of four projects
and further development of 16 projects around the state.

"These new projects are a direct result of the successful
passage of the new 6-cent gas tax," said TRAC Chairman and Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Gordon Proctor.
"Without this additional revenue, the requests by local communities
for infrastructure or major transit projects would have gone unmet. We
can now focus on not only system maintenance, but system improvements
and additions that will benefit all Ohioians."

Without the new 6-cent gas tax revenue source ODOT would not have had
any funds available for new projects by fiscal year 2005. Last year
alone, money available dropped from approximately $300 million in
previous years to just $25 million for projects in 2005 to 2007.

Currently, the TRAC created by the Ohio Legislature in 1997 to
oversee fair distribution of transportation funds has 49 projects
under construction or to be constructed; they are worth $2.6 billion.

Summary
Project Overview

Projects approved for construction:

Hamilton and Warren Counties - Widening of U.S. 22

Montgomery County - Upgrade I-70 and SR 202 Interchange

Summit County - Widening of I-77 near the Akron/Canton Airport

Wood and Sandusky Counties - Widening of U.S. 20

Projects under development:

Cuyahoga County - Cleveland Innerbelt Study along with the
Cuyahoga Central Viaduct